Roman Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku

Diocese of Issele-Uku Dioecesis Isseleukuanus
Location
Country	Nigeria
Territory	Aniocha North and Aniocha South, Ika North East and Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South in Delta State
Metropolitan	Archdiocese of Benin City
Statistics
Area	3,011 km2 (1,163 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2010) 2,026,302 817,853 (40.3%)
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	July 5, 1973
Cathedral	St. Paul Cathedral
Current leadership
Pope	Benedict XVI
Bishop	Most Rev. Dr. Michael Odogwu Elue
Metropolitan Archbishop	Archbishop of Benin City
Vicars General	Msgr. Michael Mozia
Emeritus Bishops	Most Rev. Emmanuel Otteh

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku (Latin: Isseleukuan(us)) is a diocese located in the city of Issele-Uku, Delta State in the Ecclesiastical province of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Coordinates 5°46′N 6°35′E

History

The first Mass in the diocese was celebrated on March 5, 1888 and the first missionary was Fr. Carlo Zappa. The Diocese of Issele-Uku was created on July 5, 1973 from the territory which was once part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City. It now covers the northern part of Delta State west of the River Niger and the state capital, Asaba including the following six Local Government Areas of Nigeria: Aniocha North and Aniocha South, Ika North East and Ika South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South, and has a land mass of 3,011 square Km. The diocese has grown from the initial eight parishes with which it began to 44 parishes and 18 independent stations in 2011.

Additional Statistics^[1]

• Catholic Churches in the Diocese 61
• Nigerian Diocesan Priests 130
• Major Seminarians 179
• Priests on further studies abroad 7
• Priests on Mission in the USA 18

Special churches

St. Paul Cathedral in Issele-Uku. See picture of cathedral: [1]

Leadership

• Bishop Anthony Okonkwo Gbuji, (07.05.1973 – 11.08.1996)
• Bishop Emmanuel Otteh, (11.08.1996 – 11.14. 2003) Bishop Emeritus
• Rev Michael Odogwu Elue, (Apostolic Administrator 11.14.2003 until episcopal ordination on 02.21.2004)
• Bishop Michael Odogwu Elue (02.21,2004 - )

Bishop's House

• P.O. Box 63
• Issele-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria
• Telephone: Office: 048 880 187
• Asaba Office: 056 280 412
• Fax 1: 056 280 412
• Fax 2: 048880 0187
• GSM: 0803 714 2369

Episcopal Regions^[2]

• Issele-Uku Region

1. St. Paul's Cathedral, Issele-Uku
2. St. Raphael's, Akwukwu-Igbo
3. St. John the Evangelist, Illah
4. St. Theresa's, Ebu
5. St. Andrew's, Ezi
6. St. Matthew's, Idumuje-Unor
7. Our Lady of Lourdes, Onicha-Olona
8. All Saints, Onicha-Ugbo
9. St. James, Ubulu-Okiti
10. Sacred Heart, Obomkpa
11. St. Michael's Onicha-Uku
12. St. Anthony, Ogbe-Ofu, Issele-Uku
13. St. Lawrence, Issele-Mkpitime

• Asaba Region

1. St. Joseph's, Asaba
2. St. Patrick's, West End, Asaba
3. St. Patrick's, Cable Point, Asaba
4. Our Lady of Assumption, Asaba
5. St. Brigid's, Asaba
6. St. Augustine's, Ibusa
7. St. Monica's, Ibusa
8. St. Michael's, Okpanam
9. St. Theresa's, Okwe
10. St. Michael's, Oko
11. Ss. Peter and Paul, Issele-Azagba
12. St. Benedict's, Akwu-Ebolo, Asaba
13. St. John Bosco, Asaba
14. Ss. Peter and Paul, Ugbolu
15. Sacred Heart, Bonsaic

• Agbor Region

1. St. John the Baptist, Agbor
2. St. Joseph's, Agbor
3. St. Patrick's, Azu-Owa
4. St. Patrick's Agbor-Obi
5. St. Mark's, Alisimie
6. St. Dominic's, Boji-Boji Owa
7. Holy Rosary, Abavo
8. St. John the Evangelist, Ewuru
9. St. Columba's, Agbor
10. St. Benedict's, Agbonta
11. All Saints, Alihami

• Umunede Region

1. Sacred Heart, Umunede
2. Immaculate Heart, Umunede
3. St. Dominic, Otolokpo
4. St. Augustine, Ute-Ogbeje
5. St. Joseph, Akumazi
6. St. Luke, Emuhu
7. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Ute-Okpu
8. St. Louis, Ekuku-Agbor
9. St. Martin's, Igbodo
10. St. Francis Xavier's, Idumesah
11. St. Jude, Owa-Oyibo

• Ogwashi-Uku Region

1. Mary Immaculate, Ogwashi-Uku
2. St. Patrick's, Ogwashi-Uku
3. St. Charles, Ubulu-Uku
4. St. Michael's, Ubulu-Uku
5. Holy Trinity, Ewulu
6. St. Joseph's, Nsukwa
7. Immaculate Conceptini, Ishiagu
8. Ejeme-Aniogor Independent Station
9. St. John the Baptist, Ubulu-Unor
10. St. Theresa's, Obior

Parishes

• Map with pointers to parishes and institutions [2]

1. Abavo: Holy Rosary Parish, P.O. Box 88, Abavo
2. Abavo: St. Patrick's Parish, Azu Owa, P.O. Box 70, Abavo
3. Agbor: St. Columba's Parish, P.O. Box 1051, Agbor
4. Agbor: St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 749, Agbor
5. Agbor Boji-Boji: St. John the Baptist Parish, P.O. Box 1600, Boji-Boji, Agbor
6. Agbor Obi: St. Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 1725, Agbor-Obi.
7. Akumazi: St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 336, Umunede
8. Akwu-Ebolo: St. Benedict's Parish
9. Akwukwu-Igbo: St. Raphael Parish
10. Asaba: Church of Assumption Parish, Asaba
11. Asaba: St. Brigid Parish
12. Asaba: St. John Bosco Parish
13. Asaba: St. Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 25, Asaba.
14. Asaba Cable Point: St. Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 793, Asaba
15. Asaba West End, St. Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 997, West End, Asaba
16. Ebu: St Theresa's Parish
17. Ekuku-Agbor: St Louis Parish, P.O. Box 63, Ekuku-Agbor
18. Ewulu: Holy Trinity Parish, P.O. Box 137, Ogwashi-Uku
19. Ezi: St Andrew's Parish, PO Box 20, Ezi
20. Igbuzor (Ibusa): St Augustine's Parish, P.O. Box 93, Ibusa
21. Igbuzor (Ibusa): St Monica's Parish, P.O. Box 414, Ibusa
22. Igbuzor (Ibusa): St Thomas Parish
23. Idumesah: St Francis Xavier Parish, P.O. Box 77, Idumesah
24. Idumuje-Unor: St Matthew's Parish
25. Illah: St John the Evangelist Parish, P.O. Box 18, Illah
26. Isheagu: Immaculate Conception Parish, P.O. Box 16, Isheagu
27. Issele-Uku: St Paul's Cathedral, P.O. Box 26, Issele-Uku
28. Nsukwa: St Joseph's Parish, P.O. Box 16, Nsukwa
29. Ogwashi-Uku: Mary Immaculate Parish, P.O. Box 4, Ogwashi-Uku
30. Ogwashi-Uku: St Patrick's Parish, P.O. Box 28, Ogwashi-Uku
31. Okpanam: St Michael's Parish, P.O. Box 155, Okpanam
32. Okwe: St Theresa's Parish
33. Onicha-Olona: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, P.O. Box 40, Onicha-Olona
34. Onicha-Ugbo: All Saints Parish, P.O. Box 57, Onicha-Ugbo
35. Otolokpo: St Dominic's Parish, P.O. Box 281, Umunede
36. Owa-Boji: St Dominic's Parish, P.O. Box 8, Owanta, Boji-Boji
37. Ubulu-Okiti: St James Parish, P.O. Box 72, Ubulu-Okiti
38. Ubulu-Uku: St Charles' Parish, P.O. Box 42
39. Ubulu-Uku: St Michael's Parish, P.O. Box 96
40. Umunede: Immaculate Heart Parish
41. Umunede: Sacred Heart, P.O. Box 7, Umunede
42. Ute-Ogbeje: St Augustine's Parish, P.O. Box 9, Umunede

Independent Stations

1. Agbor-Nta: St. Benedict Catholic Church
2. Alisimie: St. Mark Catholic Church
3. Alihami: All Saints Catholic Church
4. Asaba: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bonsiac
5. Ejeme-Aniogor: St. Felix Catholic Church, P.O. Box 174
6. Emuhu: St Luke Catholic Church
7. Ewuru: St John the Evangelist, P.O. Box 1053
8. Igbodo: St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church
9. Issele-Azagba: Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church, P.O. Box 78
10. Issele-Mkpitime: St. Lawrence Catholic Church
11. Issele-Uku: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Ogbe-Ofu
12. Obior: St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church
13. Obomkpa: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O. Box 27, Issele-Uku
14. Oko: St. Micheal Catholic Church
15. Onicha-Uku: St. Michael Catholic Church
16. Owa-Oyibu: St. Jude Catholic Church
17. Ubulu-Unor: St. John the Baptist, P.O. Box 96
18. Ugbolu: Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
19. Ute-Okpu: Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Higher institutions chaplaincy

1. College of Education, Agbor
2. Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba
3. Federal College of Education Technical, Asaba
4. St. John's, Alihagu

Nurseries and Primary Schools

1. Holy Infant International School, Agbor
2. Regina Mundi Nursery/Primary School,Asaba
3. St. Mary Anne Nursery/Primary School, Ebu
4. Mercy Nursery/Primary School, Ibusa
5. St. Maria Gorretti School, Illah
6. Immaculate Conception Nursery/Primary School, Ishiagu
7. Holy Child School, Issele-Uku
8. Divine Love Nursery/Primary School, Ogwashi-Uku
9. Holy Child School, Onicha-Olona
10. Divine Love School, Ubulu-Uku
11. Sacred Heart Nursery/Primary School, Umunede
12. St. Augustine Nursery/Primary School, Ubulu-Okiti

Secondary Schools

1. Dominican Vocational School, Agbor
2. Holy Infant Secondary School, Agbor
3. Madonna Comprehensive Secondary School, Akwukwu-Igbo
4. St John's Secondary School, Alihagu
5. Mercy Girls' Secondary School, Aliokpu Agbor
6. Juniorate Girls' Secondary School, Issele-Uku
7. Divine Love Secondary School, Ubulu-Uku

Institutions

1. Madonna School for the Handicapped, Okpanam
2. Regina Mundi Computers, Ogwashi-Uku

Hospitals and maternities

1. Catholic Health Centre, Ewulu
2. Catholic Maternity and Hospital, P.O. Box 98, Ekuku-Agbor
3. St Anthony's Catholic Maternity, P.O. Box 206, Ubulu-Uku
4. St Elizabeth's Catholic Maternity, P.O. Box 43, Umunede
5. St John's Hospital, P.O. Box 1896, Agbor
6. St Joseph Hospital, P.O. Box 911, Asaba
7. St Mary's Hospital, P.O. Box 38, Ogwashi-Uku
8. St Theresa's Hospital, P.O. Box 63, Issele-Uku

Special Homes

1. Pro Labore Dei, Asaba
2. Home for Old People, Asaba
3. Home for Destitutes, Agbor
4. Home for Destitutes, Umunede

Special Insitutions

1. Pastoral Centre, Issele-Uku
2. School of Evangelization, Issele-Uku
3. Leprosaria, Abor Ogwashi-Uku
4. Leprosaria, Ute-Enugu

Female religious houses

1. Daughters of Charity, Okpanam
2. Daughters of Charity, Box 121, Umunede
3. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Akwukwu-Igbo
4. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Box 63, Issele-Uku
5. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Gbenoba, Agbor-Obi
6. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Illah, c/o St John’s, Box 18, Illah
7. DDL Daughters of Divine Love, Ubulu-Uku
8. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, Aliokpu
9. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Convent, Box 60, Issele-Uku
10. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Convent, Igbuzor
11. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, Onicha-Olona
12. DMMM Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy, Ubulu-Uku
13. Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine, Agbor-Obi
14. Franciscan Sisters, Ogwashi-Uku
15. Immaculate Heart Sisters, Okpanam
16. NES New Evangelization Sisters, Agbor
17. NES New Evangelization Sisters, Box 63, Issele-Uku
18. NES New Evangelization Sisters, Box 72, Ubulu-Okiti
19. NES New Evangelization Sisters, Ogwashi-Uku
20. OLA Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, Box 2170, Agbor
21. OLA Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles Convent, Box 54, Asaba
22. SSL Sisters of St Louis, Ewulu

Male religious houses

1. OSA Augustinian Fathers, Box 32, Igbuzor
2. OP Dominican Fathers, St Patrick’s Church, Agbor-Obi, Box 1725, Agbor
3. SMA Society of African Missions, St Patrick's Church, Cable Point, Asaba, Box 793,Asaba

Priestly formation

• Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
• All Saints Major Seminary, Uhiele-Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
• Saint Felix Minor Seminary, P.O. Box 174, Ejeme-Aniogor, Delta State, Nigeria

Politics

The diocese is located in the northern area of Delta State which is structured according to political divisions known as local government areas (L.G.A.s). There were in 1991 twelve LGAs, then nineteen and now there are 25 LGAs. The Diocese of Issele-Uku now covers six of the local government areas: Aniocha North and Aniocha South, Ika North East and Ika South, and Oshimili North and Oshimili South, and with a land mass of 3,011 square Km.

Notes

1. ^ Diocesan Directory and Liturgical Calendar 2010, Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku. ATCOM Press. p.6.
2. ^ Diocesan Directory and Liturgical Calendar 2010, Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku. ATCOM Press. pp.35-37.

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Nigeria

External Links

• Map showing cities and towns where the diocese is active
• Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Issele-Uku Landmarks including picture of the Catholic Cathedral
• Ss Peter and Paul Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
• All Saints Major Seminary, Edo State, Nigeria
• About Delta State showing map of local government areas and giving economic and political descriptions